FINAL FANTASY XI Update (Jul. 19)

Wow, this thing is huge. [Event-Related] *A new chapter has been added to "Chains of Promathia." *A new quest called "The Fellowship Quest" has been added. Upon completion of this quest, the player will receive an item used to call an NPC. -The NPC may not be called during NPC escort quests, but may be used along with beastmasters' pets, summoners' avatars, and dragoons' wyverns. -The NPC may only be called in certain field areas. -The NPC may fight monsters, gain experience, and level up with the player. -A player fighting with an NPC fellow will receive only 70% of the usual experience points gained for solo battles. -The NPC may be called only when there are less than six members in the player's group. A party may contain a maximum of three NPC fellows, along with the three players who have called them. -If the NPC's level exceeds that of the player, its status will be adjusted to match the player's level. -The NPC's equipment will occasionally change after fighting several battles. -The NPC will leave if the player: -temporarily logs out to PlayOnline -logs out -enters a different area -is KO'd -All NPCs in a party will leave if the party attempts to increase its total number of players and NPCs to seven. *Several new quests have been added, including: -A quest in which the player may acquire headgear that resembles various beastmen -Rematches with mammets and the Mithran sin hunters And more! *An NPC that tells the player's fortune regarding titles and other "elements" has been added in Mhaura. *Character title selection has been changed in the following ways: -It now costs less gil to change a player's title. Also, it now costs no gil at all to check the player's list of available titles. -The NPC bard that changes player titles will now sing out the player's title just before changing it. -After changing the player's title, the NPC bard will sing out the new title. Nearby PCs will also be able to hear the new title. -The player will now have the option to have a random title selected for him or her at no cost once each day (Earth time). -Titles earned by defeating NMs are now available for selection not just at Selbina and Mhaura, but also at Kazham and Rabao. *A chocobo riding game has been added. The player must deliver a chocobo from the chocobo stables where the quest was offered to a designated nation. *Players are now able to talk to an NPC and check the remaining time until they are able to reenter the battlefield for the ENM quests "Pulling the Strings" and "Automaton Assault." *"Return Ring" and "Homing Ring" have been added to the list of items that may be earned by exchanging conquest points. *If a player has completed the quests to get a pair of Mannequin Pumps or a Minstrel's Dagger but disposed of the item he earned, the player may now reacquire the item at the same place he attained it. *Mythril Plate Armor has been added to the list of equipment that may be stored as a key item. *A new NPC that will trade items for treasure earned by defeating Lumorian monsters has been added. [Battle-Related] *Players are now able to earn experience from monsters of a wider level range than previously possible. Experience points earned by defeating "decent challenge" and "easy prey" monsters will also increase in some instances. *Experience chain bonuses in level-restricted areas of Chains of Promathia are now determined by the level of the player while in that area, rather than the player's actual level. *Monster locations have been adjusted, particularly in Chains of Promathia areas. The following areas will be affected: Bibiki Bay, Uleguerand Range, Attohwa Chasm, Newton Movalpolos, Promyvion – Holla, Promyvion – Dem, Promyvion – Mea, Promyvion – Vahzl, Lufaise Meadows, Phomiuna Aqueducts, the Sacrarium, Riverne – Site #A01, Riverne – Site #B01, the Garden of Ru'Hmet, Ro'Maeve, the Boyahda Tree, the Den of Rancor, the Shrine of Ru'Avitau, Kuftal Tunnel *The damage and accuracy of a player's ranged attack are now calculated based on the distance of the player from the monster. This determination varies from weapon to weapon, as does the ideal distance for maximum damage. In addition, the higher the monster's level is with regard to the player, the less damage will be dealt with a ranged attack. *The player's enmity now decreases when a shadow image created by Utsusemi is absorbed by an attack. *Weather will no longer have an effect on the distance a player can be detected for monsters that detect based on the use of magic. *Several new notorious monsters have been added. *Creatures summoned by monsters (excluding elementals) have had their names changed to "(Monster's name)'s Avatar" for consistency. *The strength of monster techniques has been adjusted, particularly in Chains of Promathia areas. *A player who is KO'd, revived, then while still in a weakened state KO'd again will now, after a second reviving, temporarily experience a weakened attack and accuracy loss for magic and ranged attacks. *Before the update, a player who fought a monster without using auto-attack would retain his claim on the monster, even if he was KO'd in battle due to poison, etc. This has been fixed so that when the player dies, the monster becomes unclaimed. *Before the update, a monster that was claimed by a party or alliance would occasionally go unclaimed when magic or a weapon skill was used on the monster as the monster moved out of range before the magic or weapon skill could strike. [Item-Related] *Trading a wijnruit and 99 ninja tools to a certain NPC can now earn the player a toolbag. This item may be gathered in stacks of twelve, essentially increasing the player's ninja tool inventory capacity twelvefold. *New synthesis recipes have been added. *Prices at guilds have been changed to reflect the amount of each item the guild currently has in stock. The cost may rise to a maximum of five times the original price. *Some of the treasure items earned from notorious monsters in the Boyahda Tree have been changed. *The way that the following items are acquired has been changed: Archer Ring, Leaping Boots, Emperor Hairpin, Peacock Charm In addition, players may receive an EX/Rare or EX item with the same attributes from the monsters who previously dropped each of the above items. *The effects of the following items have been altered: Poison Potion, Venom Potion, Paralyze Potion, Sleeping Potion, Silencing Potion, Blinding Potion, Vitriol, Instant Warp, Bastok Mines gate glyph, Bastok Markets gate glyph, Port Bastok gate glyph, Eastern San d'Oria gate glyph, Western San d'Oria gate glyph, Northern San d'Oria gate glyph, Windurst Waters gate glyph, Port Windurst gate glyph, Windurst Woods gate glyph, New Year's gift, Cantarella, Black Drop, Muting Potion, Invitriol, Warp Cudgel, Trick Staff II, Treat Staff II, Teleport ring: Holla, Teleport ring: Dem, Teleport ring: Mea, Teleport ring: Vahzl, Teleport ring: Yhoat, Teleport ring: Altep, Memento Muffler, Gargoyle Boots, Zoolater Hat, Root Sabots, Aries Mantle, Anubis's Knife, Oscar Scarf, Kinkobo, Carpenter's Belt, Blacksmith's Belt, Goldsmith's Belt, Weaver's Belt, Tanner's Belt, Boneworker's Belt, Alchemist's Belt, Culinarian's Belt, Fisherman's Belt, Counter Earring, Tactical Ring, Wing Gorget, Healing Feather, Spirit Lantern, Astral Pot, Homing Ring, Return Ring, Absorbing Shield, Tavnazian Ring, Ducal Guard's Ring, Maat's Cap, Kingdom Stables Collar, Republic Stables Medal, Federation Stables Scarf, Cursed Beverage, Cursed Soup *The item "Timepiece" has been added to the list of special items a player may receive 100 days after participating in the Vana'diel Adventurer Recruitment Program. *The following item names have been changed in the English version: Panzer Mask -> Panther Mask Panzer Mask +1 -> Panther Mask +1 Amemit Mantle -> Amemet Mantle Amemit Mantle +1 -> Amemet Mantle +1 *The item name "Comet" has been changed to "Little Comet." *An attribute of the following item has been changed: Darksteel Pick +1 Delay:312 -> Delay:303 [System-Related] *Region Info may now be viewed from all areas. *Messages may no longer be sent using /tell to a player on the user's blacklist. *Along with the introduction of the Fellowship Quest, players may now combine text commands with to target their NPC fellows and execute their desired actions. Only the player who called the NPC may target it using . [Other Content] *The following changes have been made to Ballista. -If one side of an official match is low on members, entry into that force is now possible even if a match is already underway. In this case, experience may still be gained if certain conditions are met, just as if the player had entered the match from the start. Also, if a player enters during a match, both forces will receive a message notifying them of the new entry. The player must have the following in order to enter a match already underway: -A Ballista License -Enough gil to enter the match -The minimum level required for the match being played -A player who has just entered an official match or a match in Diorama Abdhaljs-Ghelsba that was already underway will temporarily be placed under "Preparing for Battle" status. -Players may now borrow the key items "Ballista Earring" and "Ballista Band" free of charge from the Pursuivant in Ru'Lude Gardens. Ballista Earring: When in possession of this item, the player will receive information about the next Ballista match and the entry registration time when entering San d'Oria, Bastok, Windurst, or Jeuno from one day prior to the match (Vana'diel time) until the end of the entry period. Ballista Band: When in possession of this item, the player will be given the choice of whether to keep or throw away the first Petra he quarries. Ownership of a Ballista License is not required to borrow the above items. The player may return the items simply by speaking to a Pursuivant. -Players are no longer able to adjust Petra selection settings in Diorama Abdhaljs-Ghelsba. The player will be given the option of what to do with the first Petra quarried only when in possession of the new key item "Ballista Band." -The following rules have been changed from special rules to standard rules. -Camp locations will change when the number of participants in a match is 40 or less. -The number of Rooks will be reduced to two when there is a significant difference in the number of players on each side. -Players will now receive experience points for participating in an official match. -The system of "Open Entry" for official matches, in which all adventurers were allowed to join the force with the smallest number of participants, has been done away with and replaced by a system called "Temporary Entry," in which players may join a force regardless of allegiance. However, the player's entry is temporary, and similar to Diorama Abdhaljs-Ghelsba's "Auto-Balance" feature, the players may be redistributed for balance when the match begins. -In Ru'Lude Gardens, the player will be able to view Diorama Abdhaljs-Ghelsba's reservation status. Reservations for the next two days (Earth time) will be shown. -The NPC Tillecoe will now inform the player of the match's level restriction when a match at Diorama Abdhaljs-Ghelsba is set to allow general participation. -Temporary items will now be distributed at the start of official matches held at the Pashhow Marshlands. -A section of the Ballista rulebook that is read out by the Pursuivant has been changed. -The rate of success for Foe Lullaby and Horde Lullaby has been lowered for players with bard as a support job. -A limit has been imposed on the amount of HP that can be absorbed by Bloody Bolts' HP Drain effect during Ballista.

Comments

Post Comment
moved/changed?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:26 AM Rating: Decent
sorry dbl post + uselles /shame i was only looking at the 1st page -_-

Edited, Wed Jul 20 02:34:24 2005
moved/changed?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:25 AM Rating: Decent
leeping boots>>>bounding boots still obtained from LL
emporers hairpin>>>enpress hairpin still obtained from VE

however i still have my originals ??? i know bcus they were moved not changed YAY^^
squares got issues
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:24 AM Rating: Decent
AAAAAAAA!!!!!! 25hrs and counting.... the *&$ing server has been busy since i started... i swear square really needs to get there act together with this update download ****. this is such total bull, once got 90% and then d/ced and couldnt get back on for 2-and-1/2 hours... then cable died so now i have to download ALL the files again... tried for an hour, cant even get to the update screen!!! What is wrong with square? i mean, they have like 20 servers for the game and expect 1 server to handle downloads for all 20? it would be much easier to put the downloads on the game server instead. their system even keeps people who already downloaded from logging on... definately sumthin wrong with that. the problem is that they are lazy... it would not be that hard to move the download onto the game servers OR JUST GET MORE SERVERS TO DOWNLOAD FROM!!! does nebody agree with this??
RE: squares got issues
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:27 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
not trying to be an a** but are you sure about the server deal? how do you know? dont take this offensively like so many people tend to do on these forums... just curiousity.
RE: squares got issues
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:38 AM Rating: Decent
i know cuz im a programmer and have a lot of friends who are into hardware and every one of us agrees that it would not take much effort to fix the server congestion issues
RE: squares got issues
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:45 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
okay, as long as you at least have some background.
RE: squares got issues
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:25 AM Rating: Decent
*
72 posts
two words: HELL YEAH!
wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:17 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
Just an observation/educated guess... perhaps SE is allowing ps2 users to dl first to reduce the stress... it seems some ps2 peeps have gotten on and as far as i know 0 PC users have had success... im not even getting the update screen anymore... PC users correct me if im mistaken.
RE: wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:43 AM Rating: Decent
thats not true because my fried and i have been trying since VERY early and we both on PS2, he got on bout an hr ago and im still trying to get on.
RE: wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:27 AM Rating: Decent
My download for the pc version worked, even if it did take many, many tries.
RE: wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:22 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
yep i think you are right, the farthest i got was when i connected to PoL... but i cant even do that anymore
RE: wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:24 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
it was difficult earlier to get on POL for me and now i dare not stop! Especially after im hyped up on Pepsi Lime... anyone else notice it doesnt really taste that much different that regular pepsi? same with Lime Coke. Just my opinion.
RE: wait...
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:27 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
i can tasted just a bit of a difference, just a little tangyness in it, but its not a big difference at all IMO lol
waiting two days..
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:12 AM Rating: Default
First i waited the first day for the update ..
Then at 1 PM i started to Update "seems i was one of the first guys who started to download it"
Then the prepairation finished and the "Download" begun ..but it didn't download anything >.> waitied for more 2 hours and nothing it still in 0% and the 20dat. file is not completing.. Then i decided to Cancel and Restart it again.. "i did" AFTER THAT i'm hell not able to start the update again due to the huge presure on the server.. waited 1 more day
at 1 am i went to try again and finally i able to start it.. i slept woke up today "8 am" and found the download on 84%...after 1 hour still on 84% .. after 1 more hour .. still on 84%.. decided again to restart the stupid update.. then it took me a more couple of hours trys to restart and finally able to start the update .. now it's still in prepairing and checking files >.> let's see on what % going to stuck this time.../ sigh!!
OMG
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:08 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
OMG!!! GUESS WHAT I GOT!!!!
















Error Code: POL-1160

go figure
woot got mine too
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:03 AM Rating: Decent
Finally got all my updates done too!! (PS2)
ddos
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:02 AM Rating: Decent
these ddos'ers are really big a**holes!
RE: ddos
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:03 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
good call
-=About time=-
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:59 AM Rating: Decent
w00t finally got the update finished ^-^ guess waiting was good idea...now to go back to sleep @_@
RE: -=About time=-
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:01 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
PC or PS2? or are you already asleep?
RE: -=About time=-
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:05 AM Rating: Decent
PS2 was checking something b4 i went to sleep
wonder how long we will be waitng
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:51 AM Rating: Decent
well im posted up for the long run. past 21 hours have been a drag and there seems like no sign of changing. oh well.

my advice find a good book or read up on some info on the game. SE is "Doing their best" or so they say and us gamers cant do nutin about it. oh well.

<---rng 34 and im pissed about the range gimp more than not bieng able to get on but the harder the game becomes, the more fun. oh well.

2 oclock est and still no use. maybe tomoro
RE: wonder how long we will be waitng
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:55 AM Rating: Decent
you havent even logged on so how can you be pissed about the "gimp" for all you know the damage difference is 1dmg? big ****** deal. i think before everyone gets the pantys in a not over this, lets see how it pants out. People were pissed about other gimps and guess what life went on. you'll still do 1000dmg with slug shot...promise.

<---whm doesnt get gimped, or else the job would be "Permanent Coma"
RE: wonder how long we will be waitng
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:58 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
Quote:
but the harder the game becomes, the more fun.

Sounds like they are over it...
Quote:
pantys in a not

i believe its "knot"
Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:41 AM Rating: Default
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526 posts
I know it's wishful thinking and all, but SE should really think about taking off 1-3 days worth of play off everyone's bill for this month. I know it's not much, but to be out basically a full day without playing is kind of ridiculous. Just a thought. I don't remember anything in the agreement saying I had to deal with day long updates and interruptions in service.

~Vasana (attempting to update for 4 hours now, on a T1 line at school.)
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 10:23 PM Rating: Decent
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526 posts
No $12.95 divided by 30 days = $.43 cents a day. Double that for, let's say 2 days worth of interruptions comes to $.86 cents. Refund that amount to how many players? 150,000? 200,000? It's enough to make SE feel a bump in their pocket book.

Do the math SE.

~Vas

(woah I love being rating bombed! lol)
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 3:26 AM Rating: Decent
So lets say you are paying $15.00 a month. There are 31 days in this month. You are asking the SE refunds you about $1.45? To me that seams really petty. Also some people got on early. A buddy of mine got on around 9:00am so SE would woe him about $0.24 because all he missed was about 12 hours of play. I understand what you are saying but i would be willing to bet all my FF gear that SE will never redund your money for 1-3 days of play.
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 2:21 AM Rating: Decent
heartily agree! rate up
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 2:03 AM Rating: Decent
As much as I hate to admit it, SoE has it right when they have these problems. Every time they have the major fubar patch from hell+2 in EQ or SWG these days with server downs and flopping oc3's (don't know EQ2, never played... and I don't play the other two anymore) they bribe everyone with a week or so of double xp earnings.

(yup yup yup we just got 520 xp for that chain...)

One server in recent months ended up with 4x exp (they had double xp turned on for 2-3 weeks in celebration of completely redoing the combat code, and that server bombed bad, so they doubled the double. On top of that, it is possible to get up to 3x pilot xp if you had done all three sides in JTL, so some people were pulling in a dozen times the normal xp in space. Man that would have been interesting.)

I think that's a good idea everyone should adopt. 2-3 days downtime? double xp for a week-10 days.
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:51 AM Rating: Decent
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68 posts
Absolutely, if days are not available to play, then we should not have to pay for a service we can't use. I know SE is making the game better for us but I pay to play but when it takes more than a day, then creditd for the next month should be coming our way.
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:50 AM Rating: Decent
ooo Wait it's only 3 days? how about the last update that was few days also all the DDoS Attacks Days tied up there, in case you haven't figured it out over a Year all the downtime including Mant. all) is running close to a month (So look at it from that point)
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:48 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
its been 2 days... i must agree but those funds are probably being used more effectively now than ever before (on stopping the DDoS)

~Eldan (attempting to update for near 24 hours now, on cable at home)
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:45 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
your right, just because SE screwed up again we have to pay for more days than we deserve... oh wait, its only 3 days, /slap Pywro
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 8:54 AM Rating: Decent
You guys are thinking small you don't want your account credited monthly have it credited properly after 11 months. Credit my account now I've recieved my 12th month at thier expence for NOT providing Gameplay. And it all works out Even I didn't lose time to play they didn't loose any money(Since thier replacing what they took) over the year.
RE: Wishful Thinking...
# Jul 20 2005 at 6:06 AM Rating: Default
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90 posts
It may only ad up to about a buck per person, but X that by how many people play this, thats alot. Not to mention the paperwork on each individual claim most likely costs more than that just in paper, or even employee time, so its just not realistic that they would ever refund for only a couple days time, it would be a very bad business move, and no business likes to loose money =P
Weird
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:40 AM Rating: Decent
Ya wanna know weird? I have 2 copies of FFXI - one on PS2 and one on PC. Been trying to get the PC version updated all night - no luck.

Gave the PS2 version a try for the helluvit. Did not have a SINGLE problem with the PS2. Can't even get into POL on the PC, but oh well LOL
RE: Weird
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:44 AM Rating: Decent
I had been retrying for HOURS on my Ps2...finally i said >>>> it and restarted the ps2, pol and everything. logged in, first try...currently downloading....its at 74% before that the farthest i got was it to check the files..try a cold restart on yer ps2...either that or things are clearing up.
RE: Weird
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:42 AM Rating: Decent
I've already done the update for my ps2 but i can't log into the game been trying for about one and a half hours now >.<
RE: Weird
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:44 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
maybe they are using DDoS on the game servers too? Heh...
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
{hmm}
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:38 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
I suppose this doesnt quite matter because once they solve this problem the people responsible will be taken care of, but just a thought anyways:

Would it be possible for these people to also use DDoS on the game servers? They are probably more flexible but they could have some serious lagging effects, or maybe worse because im not entirely sure what could go on because of DDoS. Last time i checked the POL website was down too so they could allready be jamming every server SE has which could, in theory, slow the progress of fixing it too. Now im just kinda rambling because im bored and po'd at having no distinct entity to be po'd at....
Welll,,,,
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:37 AM Rating: Decent
See I tryed to be patient and just read the forams and find out myself what the hell was goin on but now i am ****** mad because i dont think SE is lying or anything but a cover up could be the case of maufuctioning of the program due to so much congesting, so in a way i dont believe in the DDoS , but it is a highly possiblity that if there are DDoS attacks they could of planed them to happen on this day because it would be more effective and it would be in the mist of downloading a huge patch.......

____ so in a way i do think that SE is being honest after all tey really dont do much bad for as a big game this is , I actually dont have many problems, so i really dont blame them but the thing is im just flusterated like all of u ffxi players are and we have a right to be, a update this big should also be announced weeks in advance considering all the changes, also im just upset because the first time i started updating it got to 10mins and errors sprung, i tryed like 10+ times after that and then 1 of the times it went to 16% and instead of going any further the time just ran up, i really do think that this wont be much longer considering many ppl are online and that many ppl are giving up today, freeing up alot of congestion... but i hope u take the time to read this and send me your thoughts because i do care, and i do wanna play , Take Care everyone and be patiant
RE: Welll,,,,
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:49 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
i do agree, but SE is really not doing what i expected them to do, i mean they put on this big update, then a world matenence on top of that so we have this big file + the massive amount of people wanting to play... I wish that they would of thought of this problem before hand, and not screwed everyone over... oh well
RE: Welll,,,,
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:06 AM Rating: Decent
Very true i also agree , but this should of been anounced its like calling a massive assembly and anouncing it the day later and its a cancer drive u see wat i mean
RE: Welll,,,,
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:24 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
yep
damn
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:15 AM Rating: Decent
this crap took me forever to download.. infact
pretty much the whole day because it kept stopping so i had to redo the whole file checking and stuff which really sucked because I was gone alot. grrrrr stupid update!
RE: damn
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:27 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
does that mean you got it?
ok this is gettin worse
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:14 AM Rating: Decent
well i signed out of pol for a while and now you can't even get into pol
RE: ok this is gettin worse
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:51 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
been trying to log in for the past 30 mins to POL... /sigh

Edited, Wed Jul 20 01:56:44 2005
NM?
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:12 AM Rating: Decent
Does anybody know if a 34 Rng with not the greatest gear (leaping boots is my best thing) be able to kill this nm for the friendship quest?

Thank you

Edited, Wed Jul 20 01:36:39 2005
DDoS attacks
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:01 AM Rating: Decent
first of all its not gillsellers because they even said theres nothing they can do about it. (refer to dec. 8 release). Even if the gilsellers lost their accounts or whatever, they could just buy new ones, big deal.

DDoS a cover-up for faulty service? Maybe but why would they when they've already stated that they're service is faulty and they've been unprepared.

Also the nature of DDoS (if you read the link (http://www.linuxsecurity.com/resource_files/intrusion_detection/ddos-whitepaper.html) points out that the idea of the attacks is that its undetected until its too late. (Too late being now).

All in all i feel its best to just treat this like a bad storm. it sucks, its gonna suck but the only thing you can really do is just ride it out and wait for it to be over.
Friendship Quest
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:56 PM Rating: Decent
the item you get is a level 5 earring you equip to summon your npc. and it's a 20 hour reuse. can only summon him once every 20 hours.

Edited, Wed Jul 20 00:56:49 2005
A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:56 PM Rating: Decent
Now, I'm not one to agree on having to choose which country goes first or anything like that, but there is an interesting point raised in seperating the countries. Instead of running -everyone- through the single PlayOnline server, they should work to create seperate PlayOnline servers for, say, timezones. They're widespread areas with enough population for it to be lucrative for SE, we wouldn't be running into this information bottleneck they have set up, and problems would be -much- easier to solve if it was so easy to isolate them to a single server.

There's a small group having problems only on the West Coast? No worries, easy to manage. The JP players are having login difficulties? We know just where to go to fix that. And during times like this, it'd be far easier for them to see where the greatest influx of the DDoS problem is coming from. Plus, it'd make the SE mainframe harder to hack if you have to deal with different protocols of seperate servers. And even better? If one of the servers goes down, you can balance the load among the others until the problem is resolved.

Maybe that's just too easy and there's way more behind this than I tend to think... and if anyone comes and wants to flame me about how much that'd cost or how bad it'd put us out of FFXI, I have two things to say.

1) Square Enix is not a tiny little company. They make millions of dollars a month just from this game, and billions of dollars a year from their other products. Money is not a problem for them and I wouldn't mind paying $15 or $20 instead of $12 if it meant the potential of this happening again decreased drastically.

2) -Nothing- has ever been as bad as this update since I've been playing. I doubt any changes like those I stated above could be worse, much less anywhere near as bad. =\

Edit: Look at it this way... the way PlayOnline is run right now is as if ALL of FFXI had to shut down just because, say, Bahamut ( my server, hence why I chose the name, so as not to offend anyone else >.> ) was having technical difficulties. It's ill-managed, poorly set up, and improperly cared for in its current state.

Edited, Wed Jul 20 01:04:14 2005
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:10 AM Rating: Decent
Fisrt of all playonline doesnt just have one server, they have several of them, it its imposible for a single server to handle 1000s of connections at once.

Second: playonline most likekly has clusters of servers for specific regions, doesnt matter if your
ISP is located in a diff state, you'll just connect to the server closest to you ISP.

Third: yes playonline makes millions... but how much money do you think they have spent to get the equipment they have, pay their programers, network admins, maintnace of the game, etc... they are in the negative numbers.

now to my theory of why this is happening... most likely DDoS attacks.

and for ppl who dont know what DDoS attacks are: they are basicaly an operation involving 1000's of computers "talking" to the servers for no specific reason just to suck up banwith and keep the servers busy, to network admins it looks like normal server operation at the begining but when it starts getting worst, there is nothing one can do to fix it. playonline keeps saying they'll find a way to prevent this but to do that they'll have to deny access to their servers.
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:32 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
Quote:
they are in the negative numbers.


i agree with every thing else that you said except for this little part, but everything else was well spoken ^^

Edited, Wed Jul 20 02:31:51 2005
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:00 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
now thats the smartest idea ive heard all night, why didnt you think of that SE??? instead of making us pay for days we aint using and ******** most of us over, why didnt you put it into timezones? rate up cross havoc ^^
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:21 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts
As a former network admin, the idea of seperating based on timezone would be impossible. seperating in countries, with an additional 2+ servers per country would be feasible. the problem stems from the fact that some ISP companies, be they cable, DSL, satellite, may not be fully based in the state where service is given. case in point, i am in Texas, but my cable provider is homed in Georgia. i know for a fact, i have to bounce all the way over there, before i get out to the internet. so that would put me in the eastern time zone, but i live in the central time zone. as far as costs involved, i have priced servers and they can be farely inexpensive but be powerful. if they take $2 from everyones bill, for 6 months, they could buy for sure 1 addtional server per country, and have enough left over to get the networking equipment necessary to pull it off.
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:03 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
Quote:
As a former network admin, the idea of seperating based on timezone would be impossible. seperating in countries, with an additional 2+ servers per country would be feasible. the problem stems from the fact that some ISP companies, be they cable, DSL, satellite, may not be fully based in the state where service is given. case in point, i am in Texas, but my cable provider is homed in Georgia. i know for a fact, i have to bounce all the way over there, before i get out to the internet. so that would put me in the eastern time zone, but i live in the central time zone. as far as costs involved, i have priced servers and they can be farely inexpensive but be powerful. if they take $2 from everyones bill, for 6 months, they could buy for sure 1 addtional server per country, and have enough left over to get the networking equipment necessary to pull it off.



now i understand... hmmm oh well ill just wait it out i guess
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:30 AM Rating: Decent
Thank you very much for your input, I'm glad to see someone of experience finally comment on something I said. ^^ It's a pleasure to learn and I'm happy to hear that a former network admin actually agrees on the possibility of expanding the number of servers per country. And I was thinking about the timezones as well after I posted and you're right, the way mirroring is set sometimes and where ISPs sit, etc. etc., it is impossible. >.< Thank you for your clarification once again. ^^
RE: A picking order for updates...?
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:33 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts
Anytime. Lol, I was just tired of seeing all the flames, but no real thoughts on how it could be improved.
This just crossed my mind
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:40 PM Rating: Decent
forget about gilsellers and ddos attack a sec...
anyone on the valefor sever, thats if anyone was lucky enough to sqeeze through. want to party up for the first half of the npc quest give me a tell when i (hopefully) got on tonight. / crossing fingers ><
ahhhhhh????
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:36 PM Rating: Decent
man what u seen on the site about ddos was an error in the server and how it can't support all the downloading, so it screws up to the point where it will crash. if that ever happens i want my money back or they better give me something like an estimated xp that i could of gain from the this mess. and i believe they're making it very easy to get leaping boots, something about making them rar/ex or making it so that the stats of the item was less. but they are just theories...
Scheme
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:32 PM Rating: Decent
34 posts
Personally i think all of you people who think SE is lying about the DDoS attacks are kinda off...

Quote:
POL just put out a message explaining that the issue has been found to be an unknown DDoS Attack...they are working on it.

Right...DDoS Attack, how convenient...

^^^
not really... actually, personally, i see no convenience at all. What have they to gain from lying about it? I cant believe that their equipment would be unable to allow this number of people to dl the update. They know how many people play and should be able to handle that. It may not be a DDoS attack but i think just because SE can be annoying a**holes doesnt mean they are dishonest.

Quote:
It's hard to believe that DDoS attacked when we have heard nothing about it in at least a month and they suddenly re-appear now.

^^^
really? because i dont. If some person has a reason to hamper SE or FFXI then why not do it in an effective way? Saves some lazy fat dude sitting in his basement the trouble of figuring out his own scheme.
RE: Scheme
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:36 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts
Lol, i agree!! What better time, than during an announced update to do a DDoS.
RE: Scheme
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:39 AM Rating: Decent
34 posts
indeed... the servers would already be strained.
RE: Scheme
# Jul 20 2005 at 12:03 AM Rating: Decent
Agreed. I don't think they're lying in the least, I think this is a serious problem they -should- be dealing with... which means that SE also needs to quit worrying about the in-game effects of this and solve the root problem before something irreparable happens.
RE: Scheme
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:57 PM Rating: Decent
FINALLY some freaking sense on this thread.
RE: Scheme
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:37 PM Rating: Decent
I agree with your assessment.
It's working!!
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:30 PM Rating: Decent
My update just started and is now at 80% downloading with 10 minutes left. That will make the overall download time for me about 45 minutes. Hopefully it wont give be any errors.

Wish me luck people!!
RE: It's working!!
# Jul 20 2005 at 1:13 AM Rating: Decent
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72 posts
hehe i envy you, but goooooood luck my friend ^^
Range
# Jul 19 2005 at 11:26 PM Rating: Decent
The Range Gimp. Nooooooooooooooooooooo

oh well its like bows r now shotguns. when up close it can be leathel and when far away you are throwing pixy dust at that hairy manticore ur 2 wars and whm just gave their lives 2
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